Avi Zahner-Isenberg (pictured above) has been playing a lot of solo and semi-solo shows lately and it's been real interesting to watch him explore ambient and distant musical territory and an honor to accompany him on this journey. On Thursday he's at The Satellite, then in July he heads off to Europe for a series of dates. And influential rock legends Archers of Loaf return for a two-night stand at The Troubadour.

Sorry for the cryptic message in the headline, but I saw Terrence Mallick's The Tree Of Life this weekend and it had that effect on me, and the words from an old Chad VanGaalen song seemed appropriate. Like Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, I think it's the biggest budget experimental film I've ever seen. How he was allowed to do it amazes me.

Don't miss Hands at The Satellite. They absolutely killed it a Bardota couple of weeks ago, and their mix of techno with really good songwriting instincts makes for some really interesting music. (Photo at right by Paley Fairman) I'm also looking forward to Brooklyn's Oberhofer, who are also on the bill. There's a lot of good shows tonight, including swedish chanteuse, Lykke Li and 10,000 Maniacs at The Wiltern.

One of the first passions I developed, back in '05 when I first considered wandering back out to see live music, was for Gruff Rhys' (at right) band Super Furry Animals, and they ended up being the first concert I went to after 25 years. In a way, you can blame them for all this. If I hadn't been so completely won over by that one show (Nov. 29, 2005 - Avalon) I might not have gone back out for a second, third or five hundredth time. I even went to see Gruff Rhys when he gave a solo show at Jensen Recreation Center a few years back, and was blown away at the giant array of instruments and toys he sets up and plays. A fantastically creative artist, he plays The Echo tonight. For myself, I've been dying to catch up with Alpine Decline ever since they played our very first Free Tuesday at LaBrie's last November with The Californian. I love their little EP and have played it to death, but have somehow missed all of their subsequent shows, so I must go over to 3 of Clubs to see them tonight. Another favorite band, Torches In Trees, play at The Mint. A word has to go out to them for the wonderful CD, Torches, they gave out at my third Feed Your Head anniversary at Lot 1 Cafe, containing some new, fantastic recordings. Hey, hey, don't forget Seasons at The Satellite with Modern Time Machines. Watch out!